BLP is an international law firm, that provides legal services to well-known brands including; Tesco, National Grid, AIG and The Financial Times. They offer a Career-Kick Start Work Experience Programme which is designed to provide year 12 students with a detailed insight into what it is like to work in a City law firm and in in-house legal roles.

The programme comprises 2 weeks of activities, as follows:

Week One:-A week at BLP’s offices, gaining a real insight into what lawyers do on a daily basis via work shadowing as well as information on the different routes in to the profession and a number of skills sessions to help prepare you for the world of work.

Week Two:A week visiting a different company each day across a variety of sectors – including sports, financial services and media. During this week you will learn how law firms interact with their clients and the different roles for lawyers in these companies.

Who BLP is looking for

Career Kick-Start was inspired by the PRIME initiative and is also part of the Legal Social Mobility Partnership (LSMP), with the aim of providing fair access to quality work experience in law firms for young people.

To be eligible for a place on the scheme:

You must be a student in year 12;

Attend a state school i.e. not fee paying;

should be of the first generation in their immediate family to attend university and/or

be eligible or have been eligible for free school meals

How to apply

The scheme will take place over two weeks: 13-17 February 2017 and 24-28 July 2017. Please click here to complete an application form.Please only apply if you can participate in both weeks of the programme. Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 20 November 2016.

Exchange Chambers is a barristers chambers. They offer a Work Placement for 16-18 years olds who are interested in pursuing a career in law. The Work experience will give you the opportunity to attend Court with a barrister and shadow them for a period of time as well as work in the office. The placement is available in their Liverpool chambers only.

Eversheds Sutherland are an international law firm. They believe that a career in law should be open to everyone and so have created Eversheds Unlocked, a programme which has run for many years in offices throughout the firm. The programme is aimed at A-Level (or equivalent) students who have academic potential and an interest in law, but who may believe that a legal career is out of their reach. It is aimed at state school students in their first year of A-Levels, with mainly GCSE A or B grades, little or no family history of higher education and a genuine interest in law - and lots of enthusiasm. It gives you the opportunity to spend three days at an Eversheds Sutherland office. You will work with real lawyers, learn what a law career involves and get lots of advice and guidance on how to start your own journey into law.

They recruit students in their London, Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham offices.

FootAnstey, a firm of solicitors provides a work experience for A level students. They aim to provide a complete picture of different areas in a progressive law firm through a two-day placement with key business support teams and trainee solicitors. Offered twice a year in Plymouth.

Fletchers Solicitors specialise in medical negligence, serious injury and motorcycle accidents. They offer a range of work experience opportunities for students within various areas of the company. This can often be an extended period - for example 5 weeks. They are looking for people who may want to pursue a career in law and potentially join their apprenticeship programme. They are based in Merseyside and Manchester.

Hardwicke is a barristers chambers in London who offer both a taster day and a weeks work experience to 16-18 year olds. Applications are now closed for placements in 2014. Applications for 2015 will be open 1st July 2014 and closing on 30th November 2014.

Matrix Chambers is a barristers chambers in London. Their work experience programme is open to students currently undertaking GCSE's and A levels or the equivalent. It will provide a taste of working in a modern legal environment and busy office environment. This week is not available during August or September.

Old Square Chambersoffers 1 weeks work experience placement that is run several times a year in their London office. It is generally available to students in the South East.

During your work experience in Chambers you will gain an insight into the role of a Barrister and a Barrister's Clerk, working closely with Junior Clerks in a busy and often pressured working environment.

Best to apply up to 6-9 months in advance.

Pinsent Masons are a large solicitors practice offering a number of one-week School Work Experience placement in one of six offices – located in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow.The programme is targeted at AS and A-Level students or for those studying the equivalent qualifications such as Scottish Highers.

It doesn’t matter which A-levels or Highers you are studying, or which degree you plan to study.

During your week at the firm you will take part in a business exercise, attend information presentations and seminars, in addition to shadowing lawyers on real issues. You’ll also be supervised by a trainee solicitor, who will help you gain an appreciation of the skills you need to be a good lawyer.

Applications open in September and close in February.

Prime is an alliance of law firms and legal departments across the UK who have made a commitment to broaden access to the legal profession. PRIME firms offer work experience to young people from less privileged backgrounds who might otherwise not have the opportunity to access careers in the legal world. There are over 80 firms who are members of Prime. The 22 founing partners include: Addleshaw, Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Arthur Cox, Blake Morgan, Bond Dickenson, Brodies, Clifford Chance, CMS Cameron McKenna, DLA Piper, Eversheds, Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Maclay Murray & Spens, Norton Rose, Pinsent Mason, Shepherd Wedderburn, Slaughter & May and Trowers & Hamlins. Prime

Prime offers work experience to students in years 9 to year 13 at a state (non fee paying) school and you are either eligible for fre school meals or would be the first person in your family to attend university.

Prime offers high-quality work experience schemes ( 30-35 hours of contact time) where you’ll learn about the worlds of law and business and the kinds of careers open to you – not just as a lawyer, but in other important areas like Finance, IT, Human Resources and Marketing.

Thomson Snell & Passmore. They are based in Tunbridge Wells in Kent and offer 4 one week placements each summer at the Tunbridge Wells office for students studying at A Level.

The work experience consists of spending time within both the legal practice areas and Business Services teams. Their trainee solicitors introduce students to the different practice areas within the firm and provide you with tasks relating to their work including legal research. There is also the opportunity to spend time with professional Business Services teams who provide essential services to lawyers including Human Resources, Marketing & Business Development and Facilities Management. In order to apply you need to complete an application form.

Withy King offer work placements to students aged 16 and above who are considering a career in law. It will give you an understanding of the work they do and the role of a solicitor. They have a number of offices in the south west such as Oxford, Swindon and Bath as well as London.

Placements last 3 days and take place between June and September. During this time, you will have a chance to experience a variety of tasks which could include: